Chapter 160: It's yours

Back inside the diner, everyone was still reeling in shock. No one was willing to be the first to step out of their hiding spot.

Dust still lingered faintly near the entrance.

Kalyssa wasn't satisfied until she pulled Desmond so that he was nowhere near the entrance. Even after the danger was gone she didn't let go of him.

Even after the shot, everything felt unreal. Klaus was now standing beside them. He was typing on his phone but if one looked closely, they would notice his fingers shaking.

He had been close by when the bullet touched the ground. Some of the dust had even gotten into his eye.

He was so close to losing the only person he considered very close to him. His eyes stung. From tears or debris? He didn't know.

A single tear slipped down.

His vision blurred.

“Yo.” Klaus was suddenly smacked on the back. He almost stumbled forward. He looked beside to see Greg smiling at him.

“My boss saves yours. How about a collaboration or a billion-dollar cheque?” he said seriously.

Klaus didn't know when he burst out laughing.

Desmond finally regained himself, he looked down. Kalyssa was still holding onto him. Her hands shook. He was sure his shirt was creased, but he didn't mind.

He pulled her close. Wrapping his arms around her waist. Her arms were wrapped around him as if letting go would somehow undo the fact that he was still standing. Her face was buried against his chest, her breath uneven, her heart beating so fast he could almost feel it through the fabric of his shirt.

He didn’t move. He didn't say anything. He only breathes slowly and loud enough for her to hear and involuntarily copy.

He turned his face and buried his nose in her hair.

“Breath baby” he whispered.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes were wide—too wide. Not with tears, but with something disbelief and fear.

“You almost…” she started, but the words didn’t finish. She couldn’t say it.

Desmond held her gaze.

“But I didn’t. Didn't I?” he said quietly. His voice grounded her. The vibration reassured her that he was still there, alive and well.

But her hands didn’t loosen.

If anything, she stepped closer again, hugging him like she needed to reconfirm him physically.

Desmond exhaled slowly. His arms wrapped around her again. He didn't mind holding her. In fact, he also did himself a favor by holding her.

“You’re okay,” he murmured. Not so sure if he was saying that to her or to himself.

“We're okay,” he added. Now this felt better.!

The manager ran out of his office. It seemed today was sports day for the chubby man. He ran past the couple and towards the entrance. His eyes widened at the damage. His knees almost buckled.

“Call the police now!!” he shrieked.

The police arrived quickly.

Sirens cut through the air, officers moved in, questions were asked, and statements were taken. The area was secured, marked off like a crime scene.

Which it was.

The culprit was long gone before Desmond’s men or anyone could get to them. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.

Klaus handled most of the police interaction, his tone sharp and controlled, as if he had not just shed a few tears earlier on. Desmond answered what he needed to, but his attention kept drifting back to her.

Kalyssa stood a few steps away now, arms folded across her chest. She wasn't shaking anymore. She talked quietly to the police man, explaining to him how she had noticed the man and the rifle.

When they were done, the police thanked her and walked away.

Desmond walked over to her. He took her hands in his and said softly, “It’s okay,”

Her eyes flicked up to him. For a second, she didn’t respond.

‘Of course, it was not okay. It wasn't even over. The people who had planned to kill him were still out and about. Who knew when they would strike again.’

Kalyssa nodded despite her raging thought.

“Let's go,” he said, pulling her to the door.

When they were about to step outside, Kalyssa hesitated. Barely noticeable but Desmond did.

Her eyes flicked to the spot where the bullet had hit earlier. There was a hole in its place and a partially embedded bullet.

Her chest rose slightly. Then she looked away.

“It’s okay,” Desmond said gently.

She looked at him again, searching his face like she was trying to borrow certainty from him. After a moment, she nodded.

“Okay.”

They successfully got Desmond’s car without any bullets flying over their heads. When they were safely in, Kalyssa released the breath she was holding.

She turned to Desmond. “I guess you are making headlines again.” she joked.

Or at least tried to.

Desmond chuckled and winked at her. “You're definitely right.”

She laughed.

The drive was quiet. Not uncomfortable. Just the everyone-was-in-deep-thoughts kind.

Kalyssa sat in the passenger seat, her hands resting in her lap, her fingers occasionally tightening without her realizing it.

Every now and then, her mind replayed the exact moment the bullet had hit the ground. The loud sound and the dust.

She swallowed slightly and looked out the window. This was the scariest day of her life.

She shivered.

Desmond noticed.

He didn't comment on it. Only raising his hands to turn on the heater.

In thirty minutes they got to her place. The night had covered now. Desmond stopped in front of her house but she didn't get out immediately, and Desmond didn't cut the engine either.

The silence stretched. They both didn't want to step out. Finally, Desmond cleared his throat.

“I’ll walk you in,” Desmond said.

She shook her head lightly. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

She didn’t argue after that. She opened the door and stepped out. He mirrored her actions.

When they got to her door, Kalyssa pressed her code, and the door beeped. She turned to him.

Desmond spoke first.

“Thank you,” he said.

Kalyssa raised a brow.

“You saved my life. And now it's yours.”